Concerned over food safety in view of continuting radioactive leakage from damaged Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan, India today suspended import of food articles from the Island nation more than three weeks after a 9-magnitude temblor and tsunami hit it.

"Import of food articles coming from Japan stand suspended with immediate effect for a period of three months or till such time as credible information is available that the radiation hazard has subsided to acceptable limits", Union Health Ministry said in a statement. Weekly reviews will be carried out by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), it added. The Ministry said the decision was taken by FSSAI in a meeting held by its chairman P I Suvrathan. It was held to review the situation arising out of radioactive incidents in nuclear power plants in Japan and possible contamination of Japanese food being imported into India.

"After detailed discussions, it was concluded that since the radiation is spreading/expanding horizontally in other parts of Japan, it may result in further radioactive contamination in the supply chain of food exports from Japan", the statement said. Representatives and experts from Board of Radiation and Isotope Technology (BRIT), Bhabha Atomic Research Institute (BARC), Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB), Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR), Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC) and Shriram Institute for Industrial Research participated in the meeting, the statement added.